2 syllables: Tem, peh. Stress on Tem.
TEM-pay
/ˈtɛmpeɪ/
Tempeh is pronounced TEM-pay (/ˈtɛmpeɪ/). It has two syllables (Tem-peh), with the stress on "Tem". Tempeh is a firm, fermented soybean cake used as a protein source in vegetarian and vegan cooking. It has a nutty, earthy flavor with a chewy texture, often sliced and fried or steamed. Pronounced with two syllables, it is a staple in Southeast Asian cuisine and increasingly in Western kitchens as a meat substitute.
nounTempeh is a firm, fermented soybean cake used as a protein source in vegetarian and vegan cooking. It has a nutty, earthy flavor with a chewy texture, often sliced and fried or steamed. Pronounced with two syllables, it is a staple in Southeast Asian cuisine and increasingly in Western kitchens as a meat substitute.
"I’ll sauté tempeh with soy sauce and garlic for a quick dinner."
"The tempeh was pan-fried until the edges turned crisp and golden."
"She marinated tempeh in a spicy paste before grilling."
Tempeh is pronounced as TEM-pay with two syllables. Primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU: /ˈtɛmpeɪ/. The first vowel is an open-mid front vowel [ɛ], the second syllable uses a mid to close vowel [eɪ] that glides. Mouth position starts with the tongue low-mid in the front, lips relaxed; then slide into a mid-front glide for the -pay ending. Listen for a crisp, shorter -tem- and a longer -peɪ, not -tem-pee. Think of it as TEM + PAY, with a clear break between syllables.
Common errors: 1) Saying it as tem-PEH with a short final vowel; correct to TEM-pay with a long -eɪ ending. 2) Misplacing stress as tem-PEH; keep primary stress on TEM-. 3) Pronouncing the second syllable as -pay with a lax, quick ending; aim for a clear -eɪ as a diphthong. Correction: practice TEM- + -peɪ, hold the -eɪ slightly longer before release. Use minimal pairs to solidify the -tem vs -pay boundary.
In US/UK/AU, tempeh generally uses the same TEM-pay pattern with /ˈtɛmpeɪ/. The main variation is vowel quality: US tends to tighter /ˈtɛmpeɪ/, UK may lengthen the second vowel slightly and keep rhoticity variable; Australian tends to a slightly flatter vowel in the first syllable and relaxed second vowel, with similar stress. All share two syllables and primary stress on the first. Regional features may affect the perceived duration and consonant clarity.
Tempeh challenges include the diphthong in the second syllable /eɪ/ which many learners merge to a simple /e/ or /ɛ/; and keeping the primary stress on the first syllable while not shortening the second syllable into a schwa. The initial /tɛ/ can blur with nearby sounds in fast speech, and the final ‘-peh’ can be clipped. Focus on sustaining the /eɪ/ and maintaining clear TEM- with a crisp -peɪ.
Tempeh’s core is maintaining an open-front vowel in the first syllable and a tight glide into the second: /ˈtɛm/ + /peɪ/. The unique trait is the front-mid vowel in the second syllable forming a diphthong; the jaw stays relaxed, lips unrounded for /ɛm/ and then slightly spread for /peɪ/. Avoid rounding on the first vowel and ensure a smooth transition, not a hard stop between syllables.
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Tempeh originates from the Indonesian island of Java, specifically from the Javanese word tempe. The term likely derives from fermented soybean products used in local cuisine. Tempeh’s modern form emerged in the 20th century through traditional tempeh-making practices, where whole soybeans are inoculated with a Rhizopus mold culture, allowed to ferment, and form a cohesive cake. The earliest documented references to tempeh outside Indonesia appear in the 1930s–1950s, as Indonesian cuisine gained global attention. In the mid-20th century, tempeh spread through Europe and North America as a vegetarian protein alternative, valued for its firm texture and mild nutty flavor. Linguistically, tempeh’s spelling and pronunciation reflect Dutch colonial influence and Javanese phonology, with the final -eh representing an open, unstressed syllable common in Indonesian loanwords. Over time, tempeh has been standardized in culinary writing and dictionaries as tempeh, with the pronunciation commonly approximated as /ˈtɛmpeɪ/ in English, though speakers often adapt to /ˈtɛmpe/ or /ˈtɛmfi/ depending on dialect and familiarity. First known use in English appears in mid-20th century cookery texts and immigrant cookbooks, gradually becoming a mainstream term in vegetarian and health-food discourse.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Tempeh" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Tempeh"
-epe sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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